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Frequently Asked Questions About Organ Donation
Who can be an organ donor?
Only patients who have died as a result of brain death can donate vital organs, provided they
are healthy. While an organ donor can indicate his desire to donate by signing a donor card,
the family is asked to give their consent before this request is honored.
Which organs can be donated?
The most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, liver and heart. The lungs (often in
conjunction with the heart) and pancreas are also commonly transplanted, while occasionally
the small intestines are transplanted as well.
How do I become an organ donor?
You can become a donor by filling out a donor card. However, because family consent is
usually required at the time of death, you should share your decision with your family.
Can I sell my organs?
No. As stated in the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, the sale of human organs is
illegal. Under federal law, violators are subject to fines and imprisonment.
How does the waiting list work?
Primary care physicians determine whether their patients should be referred to a transplant
center for evaluation. Following extensive tests, if it is determined that the patient is a good
candidate for transplantation, the center adds the patient’s name to the center’s as well as
national waiting lists. In the United States, the national waiting list is maintained by the
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) under the authority of the Center for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
How successful are transplants?
The success of heart transplantation obviously varies according to risk factors prior to
transplantation. In general the success rate of the surgery is close to 95% in most centers on
the average. Furthermore, if you survive the initial 30 days the chances are close to 90% that
you will be alive at the end of the first year. For survival statistics on all organs, visit United
Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
221 South Figueroa Street, Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90012 www.onelegacy.org
(213) 229-5600 Fax (213) 229-5601 General Information (800) 786-4077 Donor Referral Line (800) 338-6112
FS13-083006
Frequently Asked Questions About Organ Donation (cont’d)
What happens if the organ is rejected?
The rate of rejection varies by organ from about 30% to 60%, but rejection does not mean
that the organ is lost. Over 90% of rejection can be treated with medications. But multiple
rejection episodes may be difficult or impossible to reverse, and may result in total rejection.
What does “brain death” mean?
When someone is brain dead, it means that there is no blood or oxygen flow to his or her
brain. Thus, the brain is no longer functioning in any capacity and never will again.
When must the organs be removed?
Organs can survive only for a limited amount of time outside the body. Our standard
procedures call for removing the organs within 24 hours of brain death and transplantation
within the following 24 hours.
Is there any cost to the donor family?
A donor’s family is never charged for organ donation. From the moment a family gives
consent for donation, OneLegacy bears the costs associated with the recovery of organs for
transplantation. However, hospital expenses incurred before the donation of organs and all
funeral expenses are the responsibility of the family.
Can the donor family have a normal funeral?
Throughout the process, OneLegacy treats the body with a great deal of respect and dignity.
An open casket funeral may be planned and no one except those directly involved, will know
about the donation.
Can the recipient and donor family contact each other?
While names are kept confidential and are not given to the donor or recipient families,
OneLegacy sends a letter to the donor family informing them what organs were used, the age
and perhaps other information about the recipient(s). In addition, recipients will often write
letters of thanks to the donor families.
Does my religion support organ donation?
All organized religions support donation, with many considering it a generous act that is the
individual's choice.
221 South Figueroa Street, Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90012 www.onelegacy.org
(213) 229-5600 Fax (213) 229-5601 General Information (800) 786-4077 Donor Referral Line (800) 338-6112
FS13-083006
Frequently Asked Questions About Organ Donation (cont’d)
I currently have or in the past had a serious disease. Can I still be an organ
donor?
Thanks to the advances in medical technology, there are very few diseases that automatically
exclude someone from being an organ donor. All potential donors are given a complete
medical evaluation at the time of death.
- Cancer: For an individual who had cancer but has been cancer free for many years, it
is possible to become a donor.
- Lupus does not immediately preclude you from donation. The health of your
individual organs is determined by the evaluation.
- Diabetes: This would depend on the type of diabetes and the amount of time the
individual was being treated for it.
- Hepatitis: A past history or exposure to hepatitis does not automatically exclude a
person from being a donor.
- HIV: Although there are risks of disease transmission, the health of your individual
organs is determined by the medical evaluation.
221 South Figueroa Street, Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90012 www.onelegacy.org
(213) 229-5600 Fax (213) 229-5601 General Information (800) 786-4077 Donor Referral Line (800) 338-6112
FS13-083006